7 MS Coast restaurants honored with prestigious international magazine awards

Wine Spectator magazine honored 19 Mississippi restaurants in the 2025 Wine Spectator Awards, with 7 Biloxi honorees.

Every year, Wine Spectator presents awards to thousands of restaurants across the globe for curated and notable wine selections. Restaurants can place in one of three categories: Award of Excellence, Best of Award of Excellence and Grand Award.

This year, Wine Spectator named 2,010 recipients for the Award of Excellence, recognizing wine lists that contain at least 90 deliberate and thematic selections.

The Best of Award of Excellence was presented to 1,704 restaurants, celebrating extensive wine lists that feature top producers and regions.

Wine Spectator gave the Grand Award to 97 restaurants, acknowledging wine lists with 1,000 or more selections that offer mature vintages, large-format bottles, a variety of top producers and excellent wine service.

Judges at Wine Spectator analyzed over 3,800 restaurants located in more than 80 countries, including all 50 states, for the 2025 award cycle. The prestigious wine and lifestyle magazine is regarded as one of the leading authorities on wine.

Beau Rivage Resort & Casino Sommelier Charlene Egan celebrated the first Wine Spectator accolade for Coraline’s.

“We are delighted to have Beau Rivage’s newest fine dining restaurant Coraline’s join this prestigious list,” Egan said. “We just celebrated its first anniversary and the response to the menu and wine program have been exceptional.”

White Pillars Restaurant & Lounge Chef Austin Sumrall said his establishment works with a large team to ensure guests can choose from a variety of wine offerings.

“I would encourage people to step outside of their comfort zone and to try new things,” Sumrall said. “We have a lot of staff that are willing to walk people through how to pick out wines. A lot of people get stuck in a rut of drinking the same thing all the time, and we’ve got all these really cool different wines available to you.”

Coast accolades

Thirty Two, Best of Award of Excellence

Located inside the IP Casino Resort & Spa, this upscale steak and seafood restaurant offers guests waterside views and boasts an inventory of over 8,000 bottles for diners to enjoy. Wine Director Stephen Morgan and Sommelier Nancy Nguyen work alongside chef Matthew Kallinikos to provide top-notch wine and dinner service.

-----

White Pillars Restaurant & Lounge, Award of Excellence

Wine Director Justin Gehrmann and Sumrall join forces to ensure that every White Pillars guest is provided with an excellent fine dining experience, including a coveted wine list with 160 offerings. The farm-to-table restaurant is the only 2025 Coast winner not located in a casino, now claiming its 3rd consecutive award.

-----

Coraline’s, Award of Excellence

Opened just over a year ago, Coraline’s claimed its first Wine Spectator award this year, climbing the ranks of fine dining along the Coast. Located in Beau Rivage, the up-and-coming seafood restaurant maintains an inventory of 5,000 bottles and 320 unique selections on their wine list. Specializing in wines from California and France, Egan collaborates with Chef Austin Dedeaux to provide guests with unforgettable dining memories.

-----

BR Prime Steakhouse, Award of Excellence

Nestled inside Beau Rivage, BR Prime Steakhouse has garnered accolades from Wine Spectator since 2007. Offering succulent steaks and fresh seafood, BR Prime Steakhouse boasts 320 wine selections for thirsty guests, specializing in California-produced wines. Chef Zac Fillhart and Egan have a cellar of 5,000 wine bottles curated to pair with the restaurant’s upscale dishes.

-----

Jia, Award of Excellence

Known for their elegant Asian cuisine, Jia received their 18th award this year. Located in Beau Rivage, the restaurant’s abundant menu coupled with over 300 wine offerings gives guests numerous options to choose from. Egan and Chef Nattalie Henderson crafted wine, lunch and dinner menus to serve even the most opulent palettes.

-----

Morton’s, The Steakhouse, Award of Excellence

Serving classic Chicago steakhouse dishes, Morton’s, The Steakhouse pairs big city flavors with small town hospitality. Situated inside the Golden Nugget, this Coast restaurant boasts 225 wine offerings and a cellar of over 1,200 bottles. From wagyu beef dumplings to seared ahi tuna, Morton’s, The Steakhouse provides hand-picked wine selections for every occasion, especially jackpot wins.

-----

Stalla Italian Kitchen, Award of Excellence

With over 250 wine selections, Stalla Italian Kitchen offers elegance in every aspect—from wine lists to dinner menus. Specializing in California wines, Egan worked alongside Chef Jose Roman to ensure a wine menu that can satisfy every diner. This contemporary Beau Rivage eatery is on its 10th Wine Spectator accolade, with records of nationally recognized excellence since 2016.

More in Mississippi

Wine Spectator recognized 12 other Mississippi restaurants this year for their wine selections and service. From Oxford to Jackson, food and wine enthusiasts across the state have numerous options to satisfy their palates—and to fill their glass.

• CAET Seafood/Oysterette, Ridgeland - Best of Award of Excellence

• Koestler Prime, Ridgeland - Best of Award of Excellence

• Phillip M’s, Philadelphia - Best of Award of Excellence

• The Manship Wood Fired Kitchen, Jackson - Best of Award of Excellence

• Walker’s Drive-In, Jackson - Best of Award of Excellence

• Bravo!, Jackson - Award of Excellence

• Char Restaurant, Jackson - Award of Excellence

• Estelle Southern Table, Jackson - Award of Excellence

• Local 463, Ridgeland - Award of Excellence

• Shapley’s, Ridgeland - Award of Excellence

• The Sipp on South Lamar, Oxford - Award of Excellence

• Weidmann’s, Meridian - Award of Excellence

This story was originally published July 16, 2025 at 5:00 AM.

Lillian Foster

Sun Herald

985-789-6350